The family of missing British Columbia rock climber Marc-André Leclerc reported on social media that Leclerc and his climbing companion have died while attempting a new route on a mountain in Alaska. Leclerc is shown in a photo from a GoFundMe page.Canadian Press

JUNEAU, Alaska – Marc-André Leclerc’s father announced on social media that the 25-year-old mountaineer and a fellow climber died in Alaska.

Marc-André Leclerc, originally from British Columbia, but whose family is from Quebec, climbed the Mendenhall Glacier north of Juneau last week with another climber, 34-year-old Ryan Johnson. The two climbers were on a new route at the time of their disappearance.

Serge Leclerc announced the news on his Facebook page, late Tuesday night, but he did not offer any additional details about the circumstances.

“Unfortunately, we lost two very good climbers, and I lost a son of whom I am very proud,” Leclerc writes. “Thank you for your support during these difficult times. My heart is crumbling … Part of me left with him … ”

“Marc-André was an exceptional and loving man, who influenced many lives, in many ways,” wrote Leclerc, who asked for privacy while the family mourns.

“Tuesday, the efforts of the teams allow us to say that Ryan and Marc are no longer of this world,” a crowdfunding page created to find Ryan Johnson read. It is reported that the approximately $30,000 collected so far will be used to pay for the search and rescue expenses and for the education of Milo, Johnson’s 2-year-old boy.

A similar campaign organized for Marc-André Leclerc raised close to $40,000; the family says the money will be used to support his widow, Brette.

On Wednesday, police authorities in Alaska said they were unable to continue the search because of avalanche hazards and unsafe conditions.

The two mountaineers had been dropped near the mountain ridge on March 4. Marc-André Leclerc posted a photo on his Instagram account the next day as he approached the 2,100 metre summit. According to authorities, no news of the two men had been received since March 5. The two climbers, according to their route, were to return to Juneau on Wednesday evening, March 7.

A major snowstorm hit the area last Wednesday and neither climber was equipped with a satellite radio or emergency light. Some of their equipment was later found by the rescue teams. Helicopters flew over the area several times to look for them.

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